Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-12-30

CHAPTER -''AiAIDENHooD AND CHILDHOOD
FLEET"
Eyes, I viii marry YOU" said valerie,
dreamily; but somehow the words seemed
to her unreal, and there was only sort Oh
nutter about her heart-nOt the passionate
gladness there ought to have been IL the
novels she had read were any guides IN
such matters; and when Louis Charters
took her in his arms and kissed her, she
did not experience any specially new sensa-
ton. save one of bewilderment. Certainly
she did not imagine herself in paradise, as
the heroines in the novels did when their
lovers embraced them. Perhaps, after all,
people knew nothing Of sush ecstacles IN
real life, and the sober kind OF happiness
she felt was simply natural under the cir
cumstanccs. All the same, it was disap-
pointment to find the reality of life so
much less romantic than the fiction.
81 have loved you all my life!' murmur-
ed Louis, fondly; that's, ever since knew
you-you were in pinafores then, Valerie,
and a tall school boy"
Yes" assented Valerie again, in the
same dreamy manner. at isn't so very
long ago. is it2"
Barely nine years, dear. Why, you are
only just scvcnteen-very young to be en-
gagcdr said Louis. who was not much
more than boy himself, and had only left
college last term.
Engaged! Oh, LOuisr' Valerie looked
scared. "Oh" she added, with n catch in
her breath, 1T seems 50 stranger
You will Get used to it. said the young
lover, tcndcrly. "You are hardly more
than child, Valerie"
"Ycs, that is itH she said, with ndtCetc;
but she felt vaguely that her words only
expressed part Of the truth, for she was an
swcring her companions first sentence,
not his last.
She was very, very fond Of Louis. She
had never had II brother, and he had been
Just like n brother Maybe that was why
this ending to their long COmpanionship
seemed go ntterof-coursc, seeing that he
was not \ brother; and also why there was
no great excitement or novelty about It.
They stood together by astile separating
the long garden OF tho Limes-where Va
lrrir Herbert lived with her uncle-from Il
stretch Of forest land beyond. Trees and
flowers were in fun leaf and bloom, for it
was Juuo-a glorious noontidc-aW Va
lcric, under the fiickcriug shadows of wUv-
ing lime boughs-
''Half light half shade she stood,
sight TO mako an OLD man young
a tall, slender STRIPPING, grace itself in
her easy pose, with pure, pale, creamy skin,
and wOndrOuS eyes Of deep, dark gray not
tho eyes that arc brown in the shade, or
the gray blue Of the Irish; but true slate
gray, with long black lashcs aud straight
black brovs and over the beautifully
poised head Curlcd masses of rich brown
hair, almost black in the shadow, glitter
ing like gold in tho sunlight, tumbliug in
loose profusiou onto the girls shoulders.
There wcrc possibilities in that girl 5 face
of which she, IN her chid-innoccucc never
dreamed. Hers was not a nature to rest
content with such love ~ she gave Louis
Chartcris-a tail, fair, handsome young
fellow, to whom the passions that slum-
hered in Falcrio's heart could never be
known, for she had
strength enough
70 rock the lungud blood into the brains
oi twenty smaller nuturos.'
But MS yet the woman slept, she was Il
child, wild, sweet, WiIIfuI, lowing the birds,
the trees, and all things bright and bcauti-
ful; knowing no life but the life of the
woods and the hills, scarcely any compan-
ions but her uncle and young Louis Char
ferris, n connection of her mothers; unCUn-
scions Of her own dazzling beauty, of the
nccdSof hcrnature; with no care for riches
though she was poor; and only vague
ycarnings Tor II greater, mightcr world;
rcading with throhbng pulse the pas
sinnate aspirations in "Locks!ey Hall, ~
but still happy in her limited world.
Il wonder what your uncle will sayy'
said Louis presently, taking Valerie little
white hand in his own.
He won't like it," she said, following
with her eyes the flight Of IA blue tit. ale
will say wa arc too young we arr,
Louis"
Too young!" he answered eagerly 81
am twenty two"
And too poor" concluded Valerie.
bringing her eyes back, not to her lovers
face, but 10 the messy carpet at her feet
Chartcris paused, and bit his lip.
Certainly am not rich" he said in an
altered tone; but in n few months / shall
have a berth in the Foreign Office. aud
that, with what my mother left me. will
make up my income to two hundred and
fifty pounds n year"
Could one live on that in T.ondou2'
asked Valerie, whose ideas of town exist
Cncc were extremely vague.
81 should think better than one can
In the country" exclaimed Chartrris, dar-
ingly and of course that is only t.
commence upon. In few years Uhcrc
was a delicious vuEucurSS about that few
| shall he earning four hundred pounds a
year at the office. Then we should he quite
rich"
Yes, quite rich, " said Valerie: "but still
we are too young to marry now, Louis.
am, 1T my rate
ShI had consented to marry hcrold play,
uatc, hut She was in no particular hurry
To- carry out her promise
but when have got my appointments
urged Louis
1T depends upon uncle WILL" said the
girl. And aud-you see. Louis, | an,
not ut to marry yet; am no more than a
child; and one has to hc diftcrcnt-more
stait and grave"
"Oh, Valerie; what nonsense! Who put
such a notion into your hcadg"
ut is So in books" replied She; "and you
know how proper Nilly Bcrtram got when
She married, She wouldn't play any more
larLs, and was quite shocked when ram
across farmer Crlmp's tarnip field Instead
of going hy the road"
"MiIly Bcrtram is only one example
Lots Of married women are just as lively
rs single ones
Married women" Valerie burst into q
peal ut merry laughter. Il am not wo
mani
What are you, them"
"A girl and Il tom boy. and want to re
main SO for a long, long time"
Then YOU don't love mel" exclaimed
I4ouis. catching her hand rs she was about
to dance away.
Yes, l do. What a funny boy You are
Let me 20. please. There is uncle vii
coming, aud don't want to see him now
"Ouc more kiss Nalcric!"
Very we'll"
She suffered rather than welcomed the
cnrySs, and then vanished among the trees
leaving her lover. with flushed cheek and
beating heart, 10 encounter the somewhat
grim old bachelor who WAS advancing
slowly toward him along the orchard path
CHAPTER r.-UNCJE WILLS OPINION
Nalcric's father, Edmund Herbert, wa
younger son of a younger son; a man q
ancient family, with far moro blue blood
in his veins than gold in his pockets. Ii
fact. lie had little beyond his pay rs Officer
in crack regiment; but he was Il lin,
looking man, and noble fellow into tn,
bargain; so, when Valerie s.. Clair pre-
fcrred him to richer admirers, people were
not 81 much surprised; though Valerie
sister. who married the rich Mr.. Langley,
anr was left wealthy widow. always CON
Nidered the Herbert alliance folly"
1t was not folly of long duration. Ma,
.or Herbert was killed in India when his
little daughtcr WIS still n Chill. and his